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enumerate the good and noble deeds which God requires of them； but which
they have neglected to perform。 It is not enough that they are trees in the
garden of God。 They are to answer His expectation by bearing fruit。 He holds
them accountable for their failure to accomplish all the good which they
could have done； through His grace strengthening them。 In the books of
heaven they are registered as cumberers of the ground。 Yet the case of even
this class is not utterly hopeless。 With those who have slighted God's mercy
and abused His grace； the heart of
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long…suffering love yet pleads。 〃Wherefore He saith； Awake thou that
sleepest； and arise from the dead； and Christ shall give thee light。 See
then that ye walk circumspectly； 。 。 。 redeeming the time； because the days
are evil。〃 Ephesians 5：14…16。
When the testing time shall come； those who have made God's word their rule
of life will be revealed。 In summer there is no noticeable difference
between evergreens and other trees； but when the blasts of winter come； the
evergreens remain unchanged； while other trees are stripped of their
foliage。 So the falsehearted professor may not now be distinguished from the
real Christian； but the time is just upon us when the difference will be
apparent。 Let opposition arise； let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway；
let persecution be kindled； and the halfhearted and hypocritical will waver
and yield the faith； but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock； his
faith stronger； his hope brighter； than in days of prosperity。
Says the psalmist： 〃Thy testimonies are my meditation。〃 〃Through Thy
precepts I get understanding： therefore I hate every false way。〃 Psalm
119：99； 104。
〃Happy is the man that findeth wisdom。〃 〃He shall be as a tree planted by
the waters； and that spreadeth out her roots by the river； and shall not see
when heat cometh； but her leaf shall be green； and shall not be careful in
the year of drought； neither shall cease from yielding fruit。〃 Proverbs
3：13； Jeremiah 17：8。
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Chapter 38
The Final Warning
〃I saw another angel come down from heaven； having great power； and the
earth was lightened with his glory。 And he cried mightily with a strong
voice； saying； Babylon the great is fallen； is fallen； and is become the
habitation of devils； and the hold of every foul spirit； and a cage of every
unclean and hateful bird。〃 〃And I heard another voice from heaven； saying；
Come out of her； My people； that ye be not partakers of her sins； and that
ye receive not of her plagues。〃 Revelation 18：1； 2； 4。
This scripture points forward to a time when the announcement of the fall of
Babylon； as made by the second angel of Revelation 14 （verse 8）； is to be
repeated； with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been
entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon； since that
message was first given； in the summer of 1844。 A terrible condition of the
religious world is here described。 With every rejection of truth the minds
of the people will become darker； their hearts more stubborn； until they are
entrenched in an infidel hardihood。 In defiance of the warnings which God
has given； they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the
Decalogue； until they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred。 Christ
is set at nought in the contempt placed upon His word and His people。 As the
teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the churches； the
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restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed； and the profession of
religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity。 A belief in
spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of
devils； and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches。
Of Babylon； at the time brought to view in this prophecy； it is declared：
〃Her sins have reached unto heaven； and God hath remembered her iniquities。〃
Revelation 18：5。 She has filled up the measure of her guilt； and destruction
is about to fall upon her。 But God still has a people in Babylon； and before
the visitation of His judgments these faithful ones must be called out； that
they partake not of her sins and 〃receive not of her plagues。〃 Hence the
movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven； lightening the
earth with his glory and crying mightily with a strong voice； announcing the
sins of Babylon。 In connection with his message the call is heard： 〃Come out
of her； My people。〃 These announcements； uniting with the third angel's
message； constitute the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the
earth。
Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought。 The powers of
earth； uniting to war against the commandments of God； will decree that
〃all； both small and great； rich and poor； free and bond〃 （Revelation
13：16）； shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the
false sabbath。 All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil
penalties； and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death。
On the other hand； the law of God enjoining the Creator's rest day demands
obedience and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts。
With the issue thus clearly brought before him； whoever shall trample upon
God's law to obey a human enactment receives the mark of the beast； he
accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead
of God。 The warning from heaven is： 〃If any man worship the beast
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and his image； and receive his mark in his forehead； or in his hand； the
same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God； which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of His indignation。〃 Revelation 14：9； 10。
But not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been
brought home to his mind and conscience； and has been rejected。 There are
many who have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths for this
time。 The obligation of the fourth commandment has never been set before
them in its true light。 He who reads every heart and tries every motive will
leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth； to be deceived as to the
issues of the controversy。 The decree is not to be urged upon the people
blindly。 Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision
intelligently。
The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty； for it is the point of truth
especially controverted。 When the final test shall be brought to bear upon
men； then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God
and those who serve Him not。 While the observance of the false sabbath in
compliance with the law of the state； contrary to the fourth commandment；
will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God； the
keeping of the true Sabbath； in obedience to God's law； is an evidence of
loyalty to the Creator。 While one class； by accepting the sign of submission
to earthly powers； receive the mark of the beast； the other choosing the
token of allegiance to divine authority； receive the seal of God。
Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel's message have
often been regarded as mere alarmists。 Their predictions that religious
intolerance would gain control in the United States； that church and state
would unite to persecute those who keep the commandments of God； have been
pronounced groundless and absurd。 It has been confidently declared that this
land could never become other than what it has beenthe defender of
religious freedom。 But
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as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated； the event
so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching； and the third
message will produce an effect which it could not have had before。
In every generation God has sent His servants to rebuke sin； both in the
world and in the church。 But the people desire smooth things spoken to them；
and the pure； unvarnished truth is not acceptable。 Many reformers； in
entering upo